25 Easy Scholarships

Easy scholarships are an excellent avenue for getting extra bucks without monopolizing all of your free time and energy.

College Raptor reports that $122.7 billion is awarded via scholarships and grants each year, but many of these funds have extensive application processes. Delivered mostly online, easy scholarships have minimal pesky qualifications and amusing, headache-free applications. They’re accessible for a wide range of students to avoid turning away anyone by major, school, demographic, or financial means. When applications are short and simple, you can quickly apply for many programs and broaden your chance of winning.

The following 25 easy scholarships are great for working financial aid searches into your busy high school or college course load.

1. AFSA High School Scholarship

Deadline: April 7th

The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) hosts an annual High School Scholarship contest for college-bound seniors who are U.S. citizens or legal aliens. For one of the 10 $2,000 scholarships, students must submit basic personal information and the name of their chosen two- or four-year regionally accredited college. Next, computer-generated software randomly draws entrants’ names based on the number of questions answered correctly on a brief essay about fire sprinklers.

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2. America the Great?! Scholarship

Deadline: May 10th

The Power Poetry Foundation created the America the Great?! Scholarship to award $1,000 for high school seniors or college undergraduates who submit an original poem. Students aged 25 and younger who will attend any accredited college in the U.S. or its territories can apply. The easy submission form leaves space for writing a short poem about whether America is already great or improvements need to be made.

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3. Bachus & Schanker, LLC Scholarship

Deadline: July 30th

Bachus & Schanker, LLC, a Colorado-based injury law firm with 20+ years of experience, awards an easy $2,000 scholarship annually to high school seniors or college students who need tuition help. Being accepted at an accredited four-year U.S. college with a 3.0 GPA or better and full-time enrollment status is required. Qualified entrants simply email a maximum 800-word essay about the importance of the Seventh Amendment and its effect on their life.

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4. Breylan Communications Scholarship

Deadline: June 30th

Established in 1992, Breylan Communications is an Alabama-based company awarding a $500 scholarship each year to young adults between 16 and 21 years old. Accepted applicants must be citizens of the United States or Canada, have at least one academic year remaining in college, and possess a cumulative 2.5 GPA or better. The eight-question online application involves writing a short essay under 1,500 words about advancements in telecommunications.

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5. Christine B. Foundation Scholarship

Deadline: March 31st

Named after a Massachusetts advocate who lost her battle with stomach cancer in 2008, the Christine B. Foundation Scholarship grants $2,000 to high school graduates who are entering college full-time this Fall with 30+ hours of community service. Applications are accepted from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Students must simply write a 1,000-word autobiography about their own their own diagnosis or connection to cancer.

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6. College JumpStart Scholarship

Deadline: April 15th

Each Spring, the College JumpStart Scholarship gifts $1,000 to motivated high school and college students or returning adults who will better their life at an accredited U.S. college or technical institute. The online application only asks for student status, GPA range, educational goals, and personal contact information. Entrants then pick from four questions to create a 250-word personal statement about their educational goals, volunteer work, or future outlook.

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7. Course Hero Monthly Scholarship

Deadline: Last day of every month

Course Hero, an online study group founded in 2006 by Cornell student Andrew Grauer, provides a monthly scholarship for registered members. Students who post advice about a course they’ve taken could earn $1,000. Those who upload at least eight study documents are eligible for $3,000. Plus, individuals who share Course Hero on social media open up a $5,000 scholarship. Applying each month takes just 10 minutes with a short answer question.

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8. DISH Promotions Scholarship

Deadline: March 31st

As a leading satellite TV retailer, DISH Promotions bestows a $1,000 easy scholarship annually to support U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are attending accredited colleges listed by the Department of Education. Students must finish a high school diploma or GED, pass the ACT or SAT test, and carry a cumulative GPA above 2.5 to enter. Applying involves crafting 600 to 1,000 original words about why sporting events remain one of the few programming types watched live.

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9. Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship

Deadline: September 30th

Valued at $1,000, the Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship is conferred by Digital Responsibility each Fall to high school and college students of any age who legally reside or study in the United States. Entering the competition involves writing a short 140-character Twitter message about why you’ve pledged to stop texting behind the wheel. Other easy scholarships include the E-waste Scholarship, Digital Privacy Scholarship, and Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship.

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10. Education Matters Scholarship

Deadline: November 30th

One of the Unigo Group’s most lucrative programs is the Education Matters Scholarship, which bestows $5,000 each year. Teens and young adults over age 13 who legally reside in the United States or District of Columbia and intend to pursue a college degree can apply. The simple application asks for a 250-word statement about why higher education isn’t a waste of time and money. Also consider the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship and Flavor of the Month Scholarship.

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11. Got a Spine Scholarship

Deadline: June 2nd

Arctic Chiropractic, a spinal health office in Fairbanks, started the Got a Spine Scholarship for $500 to financially support U.S. or Canadian residents who will be attending college full-time by October 2nd of that year. Having good academic standing with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher is the only requirement. To apply, fill in your contact information and submit a brief essay under 1,000 words about the best methods to prevent chronic back pain.

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12. Hood Sportsmanship Scholarship

Deadline: March 6th

Worth $5,000, the Hood Sportsmanship Scholarship is an easy, merit-based program for student-athletes in New England to earn cash for two- or four-year accredited U.S. colleges. Interested applicants must play one or more varsity sports, perform volunteer service, and maintain a minimum “B” average. Each entrant writes a 500-word essay about how they display sportsmanship on and off the field, which is reviewed by online readers for a popular vote.

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13. Inverters R Us Power Scholarship

Deadline: June 30th

Inverters R Us, an inverter brand retailer, sponsors the Power Scholarship to present $1,000 to two college undergraduates annually. Eligible entrants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents, attend higher education full-time, sustain a 3.0 GPA or higher, and display passion for alternative power. The short online application asks for an unofficial transcript copy and 500-1,500 word essay detailing the importance of DC to AC power inverters.

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14. Legislative Lottery Scholarship

Deadline: None

Looking for easy scholarships without an application at all? The New Mexico Higher Education Department’s Legislative Lottery Scholarship automatically considers any state resident who obtained the New Mexico diploma or excellence and will remain in-state for college. Suitable students must take 15+ credits per semester, become freshmen immediately after graduation, attain a 2.5 GPA overall or better, and file a FAFSA form. Funding is renewable for up to seven semesters.

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15. Life Lessons Scholarship Program

Deadline: March 1st

Sponsored by StateFarm and MDRT, the Life Lessons Scholarship Program gifts $5,000 to $15,000 annually to legal U.S., District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico residents between 17 and 24 years old who have experienced the death of a parent or legal guardian. Students must be accepted at accredited colleges or trade schools before entry. Conveniently, entrants select a 500-word essay or three-minute video for conveying the importance of life insurance coverage.

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16. Niche “No Essay” College Scholarship

Deadline: March 31st

Niche, a respected college ranking website, initiated the $2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship for high school, college, and graduate students living in the U.S. or studying on visa who will enter an accredited university full-time in the next 12 months. Applicants enter the sweepstakes through their online account or by sending a postcard with their contact information to the Pittsburgh headquarters. Recent scholars attend Baylor, Temple, UCLA, Penn State, and more.

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17. Operation Prevention Video Challenge

Deadline: March 28th

Ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, the Operation Prevention Video Challenge offers three easy scholarships per year from Discovery Education. Any U.S. high school senior or college student with a camera can apply for this scholarship and a potential two-day trip to the DEA’s Training Academy in Quantico. Simply record a creative 30-60 second public service announcement warning fellow teens about the serious risks of addiction to prescription opioids.

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18. Quality Air Filter Scholarship

Deadline: March 31st

The Quality Air Filter Scholarship contest is open from September through March to provide $1,000 to several high school seniors or college undergrads living legally in the U.S. and its territories. Applying for the merit-based program involves submitting a 10-30 second video creatively showing what you’d do with an extra hour each month. University or vocational school students can submit the video on YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter with #12ExtraHours.

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19. Rinse, Recycle, Repeat Scholarship

Deadline: April 30th

DoSomething.org awards several easy scholarships for service-minded students year-round for over 5.5 million members, including the $5,000 Rinse, Recycle, Repeat Scholarship. Sponsored by Garnier, this campaign simply asks students to design an impactful, eco-friendly solution for recycling empty beauty products and keeping them out of landfills. Like the Crash Text Dummy and Seed Bombs Away Scholarships, submissions are reserved for U.S. and Canadian citizens aged 25 and under.

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20. Rosewood Family Scholarship

Deadline: April 1st

The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) awards the Rosewood Family Scholarship to provide up to $6,100 for a maximum of 15 semester hours at accredited in-state public community colleges and universities. Prospective students simply must provide a birth certificate or marriage license proving their direct lineage to Rosewood families affected by the racially motivated massacre of January 1923 in Levy County, Florida. Entrants should also submit a FAFSA form and not be in loan default.

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21. Scholarship America Dream Award

Deadline: December 15th

The Scholarship America Dream Award gifts $5,000 to $15,000 per year through general and STEM-specific scholarships to support college sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are U.S. citizens, green card holders, or DACA immigrants. Applicants who are enrolled full-time at an accredited university with 12+ credits and a minimum “B” average may apply. Without an essay, the easy application asks for a transcript, financial need statement, and reference letter.

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22. Second Effort Scholarship Program

Deadline: July 1st

The Arkansas Department of Higher Education manages the Second Effort Scholarship Program to automatically award $1,000 or the cost of tuition to students with the 10 highest scores on the Arkansas High School Diploma test. While there’s no application, finalists will be contacted by the ADHE to submit an information sheet by July 1st. Funding is renewable for three years of baccalaureate study if a minimum overall 2.5 GPA is maintained.

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23. Six Star Pro Nutrition Scholarship

Deadline: April 30th

Founded in 2005, Six Star Pro Nutrition is a body-building supplement company linked to Danica Patrick, Candace Parker, Rob Gronkowski, and other athletes that’s awarding a $15,000 scholarship. Ideal candidates would be college students between 18 and 22 years old with a minimum 3.0 GPA who excel in campus leadership. To apply, entrants simply write a maximum 1,000-word essay or record a three-minute video discussing their focus on sports and fitness.

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24. Tortoise Capital Advisors Scholarships

Deadline: February 28th

Tortoise Capital Advisors provides three, non-renewable scholarships of $1,000, $2,000, and $3,000 apiece to young entrepreneurs who are molding their business mindset in accredited U.S. higher education. Qualified entrants will be residents of Missouri or Kansas, work towards a bachelor’s degree full-time, and have a minimum 3.3 GPA. Instead of a lengthy essay, students can simply attach an innovative, viable business plan written for their courses.

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25. Vectorworks Design Scholarship

Deadline: July 15th

Started by Richard Diehl, the Vectorworks Design Scholarship offers $3,000 for tuition, free design software, and virtual or in-person training to students who exhibit outstanding artistic talent. The application is short and sweet with only personal information and a portfolio in PDF or .mp4 format required. Remember that eligible candidates must be taking 6+ credits at an accredited college for a bachelor’s or master’s degree in design-oriented majors, including landscape architecture.

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The NCES shares that that average annual net price of college with room and board included is $16,188 at public and $37,424 at private four-year institutions. Desperation to cover these rising expenses without surpassing loan limits can make students vulnerable. Bogus websites touting big scholarships have been created by cyber criminals to trick students into sharing sensitive data. Before applying, check scholarships’ authenticity by reviewing the contact information, lists of previous recipients, and the application itself for red flags like social security numbers. We’ve given these 25 easy scholarships our stamp of approval for fast, free aid that won’t require jumping through hoops.